Experience the extraordinary at Hatonosu Gorge, a place of "waterfalls and ruins," just an hour's drive from the city center.
The necessity of the extraordinary
What is everyday life?
I believe that "everyday life" is a general term encompassing typical daily living, everyday events, and situations. Furthermore, everyday life refers to the daily living and activities of individuals and society, and its content and characteristics vary depending on the person and the era.
So, what exactly does "out of the ordinary" refer to?
The word "non-" implies the opposite of everyday life. For me, who usually lives in central Tokyo, places like mountains, beachside cafes, or valleys, or the act of going to such places and experiencing something there, are all considered out of the ordinary.
Having extraordinary experiences broadens one's perspective and has the benefit of enriching one's daily life.
For someone who doesn't usually watch movies, going to see a French film that's only showing in the back alleys of Ginza on the weekend, or inviting a friend to a live performance of a genre of music they don't usually listen to, can be an extraordinary experience. The time spent basking in that afterglow after returning to everyday life becomes valuable.
Whether it's watching a movie or listening to music, these activities, while subtly stepping outside your comfort zone, offer a refined sense of escape from the ordinary by seeking a certain kind of stimulation.
So, as a unique experience for you, how about going to see a waterfall and visiting the ruins of a hot spring inn that was in operation until around 2000?
"Soryu Falls" is about an hour from central Tokyo via the Chuo Expressway.
There is no entrance to the southbound Chuo Expressway at Takaido, so proceed along the Koshu Kaido towards Shinjuku to Eifuku, then make a U-turn to access the southbound Chuo Expressway. From Hachioji, take the Ken-O Expressway and exit at Hinode IC. From there, drive on local roads for about 40 minutes to reach Hatonosu Gorge. Surprisingly, it is more convenient to access by train from central Tokyo, as it is a 5-minute walk from Hatonosu Station on the JR Ome Line.
If you park your car in the Hatonosu parking lot, cross the road, and go down the slightly steep stairs next to the sign, you'll arrive at Soryu Falls. It's pronounced Soryu no Taki. It's a beautiful waterfall where two waterfalls flow down side by side. As the name suggests, the two waterfalls are likened to a dragon, with the upper waterfall called "East Dragon Falls" and the lower waterfall called "West Dragon Falls." East Dragon Falls has a drop of about 25 meters, and West Dragon Falls has a drop of about 20 meters, and both create a powerful spray of water, offering a spectacular view.
Furthermore, hiking trails are maintained around the Twin Dragon Falls, allowing visitors to enjoy the nature of Okutama and trek to the falls while enjoying a forest bath. In particular, during the autumn foliage season, the waterfall and the colorful leaves create a beautiful contrast, attracting many visitors.
The hot spring resort "Hatowaso" and the restaurant "Isshintei" were in operation until 2000.
If you go to see the Twin Dragon Waterfall, you may unintentionally end up visiting ruins.
When you think of ruins, you tend to imagine places that only people who call themselves ruin enthusiasts would go to, but this place appears so naturally that it's almost anticlimactic. The first ruin I ever came close to in my life was this hot spring inn, "Hatowaso."
There are ropes everywhere blocking access, so you can't go inside, but I was very curious and did some research, and it seems to be a hot spring inn built in the 1970s, with a phone number listed in the phone book until around 2000, and it has been in a state of ruin for about 20 years.
A little further down the road, there's another unused building that used to be a restaurant. It seems that this restaurant has taken over the name Isshintei and is now operating in a different location.
This place was once bustling with activity, and time seems to have frozen there from the Showa to the Heisei era, remaining still until this Reiwa era. It's an indescribable experience, as if you're the only one who can move, observing the people who have stopped in time. The sound of the nearby waterfall helps to maintain a sense of calm amidst these strange feelings.
The surrounding scenery is one where time seems to flow very slowly.
If you walk around this area for a bit, you'll come across a residential neighborhood. People live here, and for them, this place is an irreplaceable part of their daily lives, surrounded by the beautiful nature of Okutama.
Having had this experience, I drove back to the city center.
It was an extraordinary experience that could be fully enjoyed even on a day trip.
